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Sunday, October 31, 2010

We have had trick or treaters today, amazing in our little town. And also a Halloween party to attend! Very exciting. But me? I've been making knickers again..

The top ones are STENZO birdy knit..so lovely ( and that reminds me..new STENZO arrives next week!!! ) The bottom in HILCO Girly Vive Ete ( thanks Sara!) knit. Again it's the Hot Pants epattern, Cinderella*Zwergen*Mode, in the CM shop. I have not pressed these yet...so they are sitting a little weird.

Friday, October 22, 2010

I love Ottobre because, with a jacket, pants, shirt, vest & tie to make for my DS (smart looking) and a flowergirl dress for my DD - Ottobre proved once again, that it is perfect for all the patterns I need. And I know they will fit and look gorgeous!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Tonight the girls and I made our very first Jack-o-lantern! I did have telephone counseling from a very dear ex-US-dwelling friend...which helped a lot! This is the centre piece for my youngest daughter's birthday party tomorrow-

Theme is of course, Halloween!

So much fun..I think we need to do one of these every year! Gotta run..I have to make a birthday cake now!

I promised a Michael Miller knit fabric Give-away when we hit 350! Winging it's way to us at the moment are 3 new MM knits...for mamas!
If you would like to be in with a chance to win a metre of either Delovely Demask,Quarter foils black or Quarter foils ebony...leave me a comment about why you'd love to win this!
Winner announced when they arrive :D

I have sewn up most of the Cinderella*Zwergen*Mode patterns, but this is my first time with this one. It is fantastic! It is only 3 bits to trace, and then four bits to cut. The design does not leave an annoying seamline on the inside of the knickers...and they are just the right length for my dd.

Here's mine, fabric is some Stenzo cotton/lycra knit from my stash. I think these work really well with the cotton/lycra knits, you get the 4 way stretch going on.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Pretty glamorous, huh? Stunt undies out of leftover knits. All those little bits I really feel guilty if I toss..so I hoard them all in the IKEA Billy's shelves...much to the annoyance of Mr Crafty. ( they are forever falling out..knits do that).

Tomorrow is Sew UP Wednesday at Crafty Mamas, and I want to be ready! So I've sewn these up for the victim..ahem...youngest child to give a test run in the am. Then I can adjust from there .

This pattern is a Jalie #2568, from the Crafty Mamas shop. Knit remnant is Michael Miller/Modkid 100% cotton. This pattern is wonderful ( as are all Jalie's) and fits my other daughter perfectly. The youngest I may have trouble getting that comfort factor in, as she is built like me..poor kid.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Then I highly recommend this little book.... so much that I stock it in the Crafty Mamas shop.

It's not an expensive hardcover book...it's a nifty little softcover, and at $15.00 it will earn it's keep in no time. A Crafty Mama's Favourite. This soft cover book has step by step illustrations, clear advice, and the coolest hippy clothes to make! It shows you how to make your own patterns for and sew...skirts, pants, dresses, a waistcoat, and heaps more.

This book has been an indispensable resource for over 40 years, they keep reprinting it...you need it!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Included in the one pattern are instruction in English, Dutch and German. The patterns come with full, easy to read instructions and there are also tutorials with pics online for most patterns. Both the ladies and children's patterns are multisized so excellent value ( a couple even have Mama and children's on the one pattern!).

Machine embroidery designs add a little grooviness and individuality to your home sewn designs. Either embroidered directly onto your fabric or as a badge (backed with fabric or felt.) appliqued on. We stock Kunin felt, which holds up really well to those stitch intense designs and makes excellent badges.

These are from the German textile company HILCO and are of the highest quality. Many have achieved Oeko-Tex certification.

Pics from ottobredesign.com

There is a reason HILCO fabrics are favoured by European designers...

Their colours are brilliant and their composition of cotton/elastomeric makes them comfy to wear, but with the "zing" factor so they do not stretch out of shape ( ie; baggy knees!). After washing kids clothes for 20 years, I've seen some limp garments! But these are well worth the extra money in terms of longevity, colour and quality. They are perfectly suited to children's clothing.

Each season HILCO releases variations of Campans and Campantes...they look excellent together or all mixed up.

They are not cheap, but one "feel" and you'll see why we all rave about them.

A good economical option is to use Campans mixed with the other world famous Crafty Mamas knit...

STELLA is manufactured here in Australia, and comes in many colours for you to mix and match with the other knits in store. STELLA is a cotton/elastomeric composite knit so again you get brilliant recovery -so great for leggins, in place of ribbing, and as yoga style waistbands, or as your main garment.

Be warned though, once you've used STELLA, you'll never use another!

Oh! STELLA has recently had a 21% price drop too!! I should mention that!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

I got into the dye pots a little last night..such fun. The first is a 2m length of summer weight knit I bucket dyed a raspberry ( beetroot!) colour. This is lovely, I scrunched it up and it has bits of blue mixed in . Destined to be a pair of Otto Woman yoga pants. Please excuse the rest of the table..we live here :)

And this is a metre of the same knit..done in a tight spiral and dyed with graduating shades of mauve, purples, with a bit if red. Just fooling around...having fun. Lil has claimed this to hang in her room ( really, they claim everything..you cannot move in there!).

I also made another cool rainbow t shirt, but it is in bed asleep now ( so much loved).